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Chasing losses

Continuing to trade specifically to recover money already lost - the behaviour with the closest relationship to gambling harm.

The distinguishing feature is the objective. The aim is no longer to take good trades; it is to get back to a number. Once that is the goal, quality standards become obstacles and size becomes a tool.

It is self-reinforcing. Each further loss raises the amount that must be recovered, which raises urgency, which lowers standards again. Sessions that end in serious damage almost always contain this loop.

Chasing is also a recognised marker of gambling disorder rather than merely a bad habit. If you notice repeated sessions driven by recovery, treat it as a signal to stop and to look at gambling-disorder-signs honestly, not as a discipline problem to try harder at.

Related: revenge-trading, break-even-effect, gambling-disorder-signs, daily-loss-limit

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